Gas water heater with waste gas purification and filtration functions

ABSTRACT

A gas water heater includes a gas water heater main unit having an exhaust pipe attached thereto for guiding out waste gas during burning of a fuel gas to heat water, an ozone generator installed in the exhaust pipe and electrically connected to an external power source for generating ozone into the exhaust pipe to mix with the waste gas produced during operation of the gas water heater main unit, and a gas filter installed in the exhaust pipe for removing solid matters from the waste gas passing through the exhaust pipe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gas water heater and more particularly, to such a gas water heater, which detoxifies toxic substances in the waste gas and removes impurities and solid matters from the waste gas before discharging into the outside open air during burning of a fuel gas to heat water.

b) Description of the Prior Art

Improper use of a gas water heater may cause carbon monoxide poisoning. If a gas water heater is installed inside a house or in a balcony where many clothes and other things are hung to hinder air circulation, discharged fuel gas may be not fully combusted, resulting in a high concentration of carbon monoxide in the air. Prevention is the key to avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning. There are gas water heaters with forced-air discharge function. However, installing a gas water heater having a forced-air discharge function in a place where air circulation is hindered cannot prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Once a carbon monoxide leakage occurs, it may cause a catastrophe.

Further, it is well known that ozone is a triatomic molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms, having many industrial and consumer applications. When compared to chlorine or cresol, ozone shows a better result in bacteria killing. Further, bacteria are single-celled microorganisms which can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent upon another organism for life). Bacterial particles consist of protein, polysaccaride and lipids. Further, virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Virus particles consist of genes made from either DNA or RNA, long molecules that carry genetic information; a protein coat that protects these genes, and in some cases an envelope of lipids that surrounds the protein coat. To kill or inactivate bacteria or virus, it is necessary to destroy or decompose their contents. Ozone can penetrate bacteria and virus, causing them to be changed into enzyme. Thus, RNA can be decomposed, and DNA can be destroyed.

Ozone can be decomposed into O2 molecules and oxygen atom. Ozone/s deodorizing action is a chemical destruction of the compounds that create the odors Ozone deodorization is extremely effective for more serious odor. Ozone is highly reactive and combines with malodor molecules to chemically alter their structure and rid property of odor. Ozone also kills bacteria and fungi and works as a sanitizing agent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a gas water heater, which generates ozone to mix with produced waste gas and uses a gas filter to remove impurities and solid matters from produced waste gas, avoiding carbon monoxide poisoning.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a gas water heart comprises a gas water heater main unit having an exhaust pipe attached thereto for guiding out waste gas during burning of a fuel gas to heat water, an ozone generator installed in the exhaust pipe and electrically connected to an external power source for generating ozone into the exhaust pipe to mix with the waste gas produced during operation of the gas water heater main unit, and a gas filter installed in the exhaust pipe for removing solid matters from the waste gas passing through the exhaust pipe.

Further, the gas filter is a precious metal catalyst honeycomb ceramic filter cartridge. The precious metal catalyst honeycomb ceramic filter cartridge is prepared by mixing magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide or silicon oxide with ceramics and then sintering the mixture into a ceramic carrier having 1000˜2000 pores per inch, wherein each pore has its one end opened and its other end closed. Thus, the waste gas cannot pass through the pores directly. The 7˜13μ pore wall catches 99% of toxic particles from the waste gas flowing therein. At this time, the precious metal coating (prepared from platinum, palladium, rhodium or titanium) on the ceramic surface of the precious metal catalyst honeycomb ceramic filter cartridge of the gas filter causes any toxic gas to be oxidized or reduced into a non-toxic condition for dissipation into the outside open air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a gas water heater in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a gas water heater in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a gas water heater main unit 1, an ozone generator 2 and a gas filter 3.

The gas water heater main unit 1 has an exhaust pipe 11 connected thereto. The exhaust pipe has a waste gas inlet 111 located on its one end for receiving waste gas produced during burning of fuel gas in the gas water heater main unit 1, and a waste gas outlet 112 located on its other end for output of waste gas into the outside open air. The ozone generator 2 is installed in the exhaust pipe 11 between the waste gas inlet 111 and the waste gas outlet 112, and electrically connected to the power supply system. When the igniter (not shown) in the gas water heater main unit 1 is switched on, the ozone generator 2 is simultaneously turned on to generate ozone for mixing with the waste gas passing through the exhaust pipe 11 to decompose carbon monoxide and other toxic substances contained in the waste gas into non-toxic substances or to lower the toxicity of the substances. The gas filter 3 is installed in the exhaust pipe 11 between the ozone generator 2 and the waste gas outlet 112 of the exhaust pipe 11, and adapted for removing impurities and solid matters from the waste gas passing therethrough. Further, the ozone generator 2 can be electrically connected to city AC power supply by an electrical wire.

The gas filter 3 is a precious metal catalyst honeycomb ceramic filter cartridge. When the ozone treated waste gas passes through the gas filter 3, impurities and solid matters are seized by the gas filter 3, allowing purified gas to flow out of the waste gas outlet 112 of the exhaust pipe 11 into the outside open air. The precious metal catalyst honeycomb ceramic filter cartridge is prepared by mixing magnesium oxide, aluminum oxide or silicon oxide with ceramics and then sintering the mixture into a ceramic carrier having 1000˜2000 pores per inch, wherein each pore has its one end opened and its other end closed. Thus, the waste gas cannot pass through the pores directly. The 7˜13μ pore wall catches 99% of toxic particles from the waste gas flowing therein. At this time, the precious metal coating (prepared from platinum, palladium, rhodium or titanium) on the ceramic surface of the precious metal catalyst honeycomb ceramic filter cartridge of the gas filter 3 causes any toxic gas to be oxidized or reduced into a non-toxic condition for dissipation into the outside open air.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A gas water heater, comprising: a gas water heater main unit adapted for burning a fuel gas to heat a flow of water passing therethrough, said gas water heater main unit having an exhaust pipe attached thereto, said exhaust pipe having a waste gas inlet for receiving waste gas produced during operation of said gas water heater main unit and a waste gas outlet for output of waste gas into the outside open air; an ozone generator installed in said exhaust pipe and electrically connected to an external power source and adapted for generating ozone into the exhaust pipe to mix with the waste gas produced during operation of said gas water heater main unit; and a gas filter installed in said exhaust pipe and adapted for removing solid matters from the waste gas passing through said exhaust pipe.
 2. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gas filter is a precious metal catalyst honeycomb ceramic filter cartridge.
 3. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power source is an AC power supply system.
 4. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ozone generator is installed in said exhaust pipe between said waste gas inlet and said waste gas outlet; said gas filter is installed in said exhaust pipe between said ozone generator and the waste gas outlet of said exhaust pipe. 